Card-feeding machine



PATENTED JAN. 12, 1904. D. A.- WATERS. CARD FEEDING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 21, 1902;

N0 MODEL.

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UNITED STATES Patented January 12, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

DOUGLAS H. WATERS, OF POQUETANUCK, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO EDDO V.BATES, OF DRACUT, MASSACHUSETTS.

CARD-FEEDING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 749,649, dated January12, 1904.

Application filed June 21, 1902. Serial No. 112,717. (No model.) i

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, DOUGLAS H. WATERaof Poquetanuck, in the county ofNew London and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Card- Feeding Machines, of which the following isa specification.

This invention relates to the type of cardfeeding machines commonlyknown as the Bramwell, in which the stock in the feederbox is carried upin comparatively regular quantity by means of a spikeapron to be firstdelivered to a weighing device, then dis charged and fed forward to thecards in even quantity.

It is the purpose of my invention to secure as nearly an even load ofstock upon the spikeapron as possible whether the box is full, partlyfull, or nearly empty. Ordinarily ii the box were full a larger surfaceof stock and at a greater weight would be in contact with thespike-apron than if the box were almost empty, and as the stock iscarried up by the spike-apron these conditions change, making an unevenfeed.

By the device of his Patent No. 667,213, February 5, 1901, George Gebattempts to secure the above result by arranging an even ing-board inthe feeder-box near the upwardlymoving spike-apron, so controlling suchboard that it will tend to press the stock against the spike-apron, astherein described. To obtain the same result, devlces WllGIGlH aneveningboard fixed at its upper edge with its free edge pointingdownward and toward the spikeapron and pressed toward the spikeapron bymeans of levers and weights have also been used with some success. Myinvention accomplishes the same result in a more perfect manner.

. My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in whichFigure 1 is a vertical side view with the end of the feeder-box removed,showing only the parts necessary to understand my invention. Fig. 2shows the cross bar, evening-boards, and attachments in slightperspective. Fig. 3 shows another method of adjusting my device with thefree edges of the evening-boards pointing downward. Fig. 4 shows one ofthe brackets which support the cross-bar.

Similar letters refer to the same parts throughout the several views,

A is the casing.

B is theinclined board, whose function is to allow the stock to rolldown into contact with the spike-apron C.

C is the upper and C the lower pulley, over which spikeapron C runs incarrying the stock to the top.

D is the evening-comb, which is so operated as to knock ofi bunches orundue quantities of wool which may be carried up by the spikeapron.

' E represents the wool or other textile fiber forming the stock, thebox being shown as less than half full.

F is the cross bar or stay, of wood or metal, of a length about equal tothe width of the feeder-box. To each end of the cross-bar F isadjustably bolted the angle-irons or brackets G and G"byn1eans of boltsG passing through holes in the cross bar and through adjusting-slots Gin angle-irons G and G and held in place by suitable nuts. Brackets Gand G may be adjusted so that cross-bar F may be raised or loweredormoved toward or away from apron C by means of the adjusting slots Gand G in angle irons G and G and the adjusting bolts G which passthrough these slots and also through the end casings of the feeder-box Aand are provided with suitable tightening nuts. By

loosening these nuts the brackets may be adjusted, and so the cross-bar,and then by tightening the nuts brackets and cross-bar may be heldfirmly in place.

In the Greb device and the other device above mentioned the pressure ofthe evening-board upon the stock between it and the spikeapron is notuniform, for if a bunch or congestion of stock forms at one place itforces the whole board away from the apron,

and thereby reduces the pressure on such portions of stock as are not soclosely packed.

I overcome the above objection by hinging to the edge of the adjustablecross-bar F by means of the hinges I, I, 1 1 ,1, and I a plurality ofshorter evening-boards H H H H H H instead of using one long board.These boards are beveled on both sides on the end opposite the hingesand are placed as close together as is consistent with their free motionon the hinges. The hinges II, &c., are provided with springs J J J 2 J 3J 4 J 5 of any suitable design adapted to press the boards H H, &c.,toward the spike-apron C when the cross-bar is in the position shown inFig. 1. In the drawings the well-known form of spiral door-spring isshown; but any form of spring may be used which will produce thenecessary pressure. The eveningboards H. H, &c., are provided atadjacent edges with fan-shaped wings or plates K K K K K K K K K K", thepurpose of which is to prevent the stock getting caught between theedges of adjacent evening-boards, and thus jamming and preventing theboards from working independently.

The operation is as follows: Fig. 1 shows one usual position of thecross-bar and eveningboards, showing the bar at such a distance andposition that if no stock were in the feeder-box the free edges of theevening-boards would be upward as close as possible to the spike-apronand nearer thereto than the cross-bar. The dotted lines show theposition the evening-boards assume as stock accumulates between them andthe spike-apron, each board working independently of the others. Fig. 3shows a section of spike-apron and the cross-bar and evening-boards inanother position when the cross-bar is turned end for end. In thislatter position if no stock were in the feeder-box the free edges of theevening-boards would be downward as near as possible to the spikeapronand nearer thereto than the cross-bar, and the dotted lines show theposition the boards assume as stock accumulates between them and thespike-apron. These two positions are not the only ones which may be usedwith my device, and I do not confine myself to them. The cross-bar, andwith it the evening-boards, may be completely rotated and moved in anyradial direction from bolt G the full length of the slots G and G andthe same thing may be done when the cross-bar is turned end for end. Ofcourse a cross-bar rigidly fixed in any suitable position may be used inplace of my adjustable cross-bar, and the wings K K, &c., may bedispensed with, if desired. Any suitable form of springs or otherequivalent devices may be used in place of the spiral springs shown.

The chief advantage of my device is that by providing a number ofindependently-working evening-boards in place of a single one a bunch ofstock in one place afiects only one board, while the others maintain thesame. 7 pressure, and thus the places on the spikeapron where the stockis thin receive the same pressure as the places where the stock is thickor bunched. The facility with which the crossbar and evening-boards maybe adjusted is also an advantage.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to cover by Letters Patent, is

1. In a card-feeding machine, the combination with a feeder-box andspike-apron of a cross-bar fixed at each end to an inner side of thefeeder-box so as to be in proximity to the rising portion of thespike-apron, a plurality of adjacent evening boards independently hingedto said cross-bar, wings or plates aifixed to adjacent edges of saidevening-boards, suitable hinges which attach the evening-boards to thecross-bar, and suitable springs adapted to force the evening-boardsindependently toward the spike-apron and to allow said evening-boards togive back as stock accumulates between them and the spike-apron.

2. In a card-feeding machine, the combination with a feeder-box andspike-apron of a cross-bar adjustably attached at each end to a side ofthe feeder-box so that its position relative to the rising portion ofthe spike-apron may be changed, a plurality of adjacent evening-boardseach independently hinged to said cross-bar, wings or plates affixed toadjacent edges of said evening-boards, hinges adapted to connect therespective evening-boards with the cross-bar and springs adapted to keepthe evening-boards normally pressed toward the spike-apron. v

3. In a card-feeding machine, a cross-bar which is somewhat shorter inlength than the inside width of the feeder-box, slotted angleironsadjustably bolted to each end of the cross-bar and adapted to beadjustably bolted each to a side of the feeder-box, combined withsuitable evening-boards attached by suitable hinges to the cross-bar andsuitable springs adapted to press the evening-boards toward thespike-apron and a feeder-box and spikeapron together with wings orplates afiixed to adjacent edges of said evening-boards, as describedand for the purpose specified.

4. In a card-feeding machine, a cross-bar F, angle-irons G and Gadjustably attached one at each end of cross-bar F, slots G inangleirons Gr and G, bolts adapted to attach angle-irons G and G tocross-bar F, and bolts G6, adapted to pass through slots G and G inangle-irons G and G and through casing A, whereby the position ofcross-bar F may be adjusted relatively to spike-apron C, a casing A anda spike-apron C, combined with a plurality of evening-boards H, H, H HHi H a plurality of wings or plates K, K, K K K K K, K, K", K, afiixedto adjacent edges of evening-boards K, K, K K K", K

a plurality of hinges I, I, I I I, I", which attach said evening-boardsto cross-bar F, and a plurality of springs J, J, J J J J adapted topress the said evening-boards toward the upwardly-moving portion of thespike-apron C, as described and for the purpose specified.

5. In a card-feeding machine, the combination with a feeder-box andspike-apron of a cross-bar fixed at each end to a side of the inside ofthe feeder-box so as to be crosswise, parallel to and in proximity tothe rising portion of the spike-apron, a plurality of adjacentevening-boards hinged at their upper edges to said cross-bar in such amanner as to be independently movable to and from the spikeapron, andsprings so adapted as to normally hold the lower edges of saidevening-boards in close proximity to said spike-apron and to allow theevening-boards to give back as stock accumulates between them and thespikeapron.

6. In a card-feeding machine, the combination with a feeder-box andspike-apron of a cross-bar fixed at each end to a side of the inside ofthe feeder-box so as to be crosswise, parallel to and in proximity tothe rising poradjacent edges, and springs so adapted as to normally holdthe lower edges of said eveningboards in close proximity to saidspike-apron and to allow the evening-boards to give back as stockaccumulates between them and the spike-apron.

Intestimony whereof I have aflixed my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

I DOUGLAS H. WATERS.

Witnesses:

LEVI E. WATERS, JOHN P. FLYNN.

